ThePowerof
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BYADINAGENN
RosieO'Donnell.JerrySeinfeld.EddieMurphy.RayRomano.ThesearejustsomeoftherenownedfolksthathaveclimbedtheranksofcomedyrighthereonLongIslandbeforegoingontosharetheirgiftoflaughterwiththerestofthenation.Today'slocalstandupsaremindfulofthecomedyroyaltythatoncecalledLongIslandhome.Someofthecurrenttal-entspeakwistfullyofthe1980s,whentheIsland'scomedyclubswereprevalentinthelocalentertainmentscene.Today,however,youcouldprobablycountthenumberofclubsononehand-amongthem,GovernorsComedyClubinLevittown,TheBrokerageComedyClubinBellmoreandMcGuire'sComedyClubinBohemia.ButthecomedysceneonLongIslandisstillaliveandwell,althoughtheforumnowincludesprivateparties,fundraisersforfirehouses,housesofwor-ship,andmore.Thissummerthescenewillrampupanotch,thankstoPaulAnthony.AnthonyisoneofthoseLongIslanderswhobelievesinthepoweroflaughter.Healsocaresdeeplyaboutthefutureofcomedy,andthestateofouragingdowntowns,nottomentiontheregion'shistorictheaters.That'swhyhe'sproducingtheultimateprescription-thesecondannualLongIslandComedyFestival,asummertimecelebrationof16shows,primarilyinthe-atersbutalsoinclubsacrossNassauandSuffolk,fromJunethroughSeptember.Thefestivalismuchlikeatravelingroadshow,bringinganightofcomedytotheaudiences,withfivecomicsdelivering15-to20-minuteacts.That'sampletime,Anthonysays,toshowcaselocalstand-uptalent,supportlocaltheatersandgiveLongIslandersplentyofchancestolaugh.It'salsoachancetoembracecomedy'sroots,whichstemfromvaudeville,varietyshowsthatwereperformedbackintheearly1900satregionaltheaters.AsAnthonypointsout,"WillRogersperformedattheVail-LeavittMusicHall"inRiverhead,oneofthevenuesforthefestival.Atatimewhenpeoplecangettheir
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June2007
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